Singers thinking of joining a long established choir can look forward to the prospect of rehearsing a piece dedicated to a dead parrot.

Ellesmere Port Music Society, founded 63 years ago, has launched its new season of rehearsals and welcomes new members, particularly tenors.

Founded in 1950, with the intention of promoting classical music in the town, the society still performs quality choral music and solo performances in Ellesmere Port’s noted Civic Hall, bringing classical music to the area three times a year.

The 110-strong choir’s autumn and spring concerts of classical choral music are usually performed in late November and April, along with a carol Christmas concert in mid-December.

This benefits a different charity each year and has a much more relaxed festive feel with the audience encouraged to join in the traditional carols.

This season’s concerts start on Saturday, November 16, when the music society chorus will perform Brahms German Requiem , in English, with a rarely performed accompaniment for two pianos.

To commemorate the 60th anniversary of the coronation, the programme will include Parry's I Was Glad anthem and his piano duet Grand Duo .

Saturday, December 21, will see the annual carol concert with the Chester Philharmonic Orchestra and on Saturday, April 26, 2014, the concert offers the intriguing prospect of Alkan’s Funeral March on the Death of a Parrot , written 100 years before Monty Python, with the Wirral Philharmonic Orchestra.

Mozart’s C Minor Mass will also feature.

In addition to the concerts to be performed locally, members of the choir sing in a chamber chorus directed by Malcolm Perry, the choir’s conductor emeritus.

The choir has sung for more than 17 years during choristers’ summer holidays in Liverpool, Chester and St Asaph cathedrals, giving it an opportunity to sing in three of the most magnificent buildings in the region.

Rehearsals are held weekly from September-April in the upper school hall of Whitby High School in Ellesmere Port from 7.30-9.30pm on Monday evenings.

All singers are welcome to join and there are no auditions.

“It is hoped that new members will naturally have an ability to sing in tune and will learn singing technique, sight reading and musical experience from their weekly attendance at rehearsal under the guidance of the musical director,” says the choir’s Pam Byrne.

“New members should soon feel at home.”

Members come from the town, the Wirral and Chester.

The choir has a ‘new and enthusiastic’ young conductor, Lloyd Buck, who, it is hoped, will encourage more young people to join.

Ellesmere Port Music Society musical director Lloyd Buck
Ellesmere Port Music Society musical director Lloyd Buck

“Why not drop by and see what we are all about or join us for a taster session,” added Mrs Byrne.

For more details contact the choir at epmsonline.co.uk.